Egypt admits Russia is operating twice as many rescue flights as UK
Egyptian authorities have admitted that UK airlines are only operating half the number of rescue flights from Sharm el-Sheikh as the Russians and it will take up to four more days for all stranded Britons to be flown home.
The country’s ministry of tourism said UK airlines were operating 10 to 11 passenger flights a day but Russian airlines were operating 20 to 25 flights from the airport, which is at maximum capacity.
It did not say why Russia was able to operate more flights, but there are estimated to be four times more Russians than Britons stranded in the Red Sea resort.
Earlier this week, frustrated British holidaymakers voiced anger at the fact Russians seemed to be getting away from Sharm faster. Some spoke to newspapers accusing Russians of elbowing their way to the front of airport queues.
"We are working closely with our airport operators, airlines, holiday companies and the relevant international authorities to assist all tourists who are currently waiting to return home to the UK and Russia from Sharm el Sheikh to do so," said the ministry of tourism in a statement released last night.
"We are endeavouring to process as many people as possible through the airport as safely and quickly as we can.
"The airport is operating at its maximum capacity, handling 4300 passengers per hour divided between arrivals and departures for both domestic and international flights.
"UK airlines are operating 10-11 passenger flights per day and Russian airlines are operating 20-25 passenger flights per day.
"With this schedule we hope to have cleared the backlog of passengers in the next 3-4 days. We will continue to ensure that we are doing everything possible to assist tourists as they wait."
All regular flights from the UK and Russia to Sharm el-Sheikh have been cancelled due to fears that a Russian passenger flight that crashed shortly after leaving the Red Sea resort was brought down by a bomb.
Thomson, Thomas Cook and Monarch have suspended holidays to Sharm el-Sheikh until November 25; British Airways has suspended flights up to November 23.
EasyJet said yesterday that it hoped to have all its customers back home by the end of the weekend.
Yesterday, Thomas Cook operated two rescue flights from Sharm, but it has only one this afternoon. Monarch also has one rescue flight today and Thomson will have four.
Meanwhile, Egyptian minister of tourism Hisham Zaazou issued a statement yesterday saying he was confident Egypt’s tourism industry would recover.
Dr. Zaazou said the areas of the Red Sea Riviera resorts such as Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Safaga, Quseir in addition to the Sinai resorts of Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Taba and Nweiba Sector, Luxor, Aswan are ‘ open for business’.
Nile cruises are operating today and every week, the Red Sea hotels are open and operating as usual, he said.
He urged all involved parties to continue exerting efforts to support ‘the excellent cooperation’ between Egypt and its travel partners worldwide.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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